FAQ

The questions DJs ask before and during their first repair. Can’t find yours? Search the docs with the help button in the corner, or browse the glossary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before you start

  • Is VDJTools safe to use on my library?

    Yes. It’s built to be careful rather than fast. Every repair goes through a workbook you can review and edit, nothing is written to VirtualDJ until you import, and every file is backed up before it’s changed. If something still looks wrong afterwards, you can restore.

  • Does VDJTools touch my music files?

    No, never. VDJTools only changes VirtualDJ’s library files: its databases, folders, playlists, and history. Your music and video files are never moved, renamed or deleted. Even a row marked Delete removes the broken entry from VirtualDJ, not a file.

  • Which versions of VirtualDJ does VDJTools work with?

    VDJTools works with VirtualDJ 2023’s library formats today. VirtualDJ 2024 changed how lists are stored, and we’re working through what each release means. You can follow it build by build in the VirtualDJ ChangeLog, where every post ends with what it means for your library.

  • Do I need Microsoft Excel?

    No. You need something that can open and edit an .xlsx workbook, because that’s where you review and confirm repairs. If you don’t have Excel, any of these will do:

    • Excel for the web, free with a Microsoft account: copy the workbook to your OneDrive and open it in your browser.
    • Google Sheets: upload the workbook to Google Drive and open it with Sheets.
    • OpenOffice (or LibreOffice), free desktop apps that open .xlsx files.

    Whichever you use, save it as an .xlsx workbook with the same name, back in its original place (the VDJTools folder inside your VirtualDJ home folder), before you run the next stage. VDJTools reads the workbook from there.

  • What does the free version include?

    The Healthcheck and Backup/Restore are free, so you can protect your library and see exactly what needs repairing before you buy.

  • Where should I start?

    Take a backup, run a Healthcheck to see the whole picture, then start with the database. Why the database comes first explains the order, and the typical first repair flow walks you through it.

During a repair

  • Why do I have to close VirtualDJ?

    Only for import and restore, the two steps that write VirtualDJ’s files. VirtualDJ keeps your library in memory while it’s open, and can save over changes made underneath it, so VDJTools stops and asks you to close it first. Healthcheck, export, AutoFix, CrossRef and validate only read, so they’re fine with VirtualDJ open.

  • Can I stop part-way through and carry on later?

    Yes. Every row has a status, so VDJTools knows what’s done, what’s waiting for you and what’s ready. Work through a few hundred rows tonight and pick up tomorrow; nothing already imported is applied twice.

  • Should I use VirtualDJ’s “Remove missing songs from database”?

    Not for tracks that have only moved. It removes the entries, and their cue points, play counts and history go with them. Repairing the paths keeps all of that. Use it afterwards for tracks you’ve truly deleted: what it really removes.

Backups, logs and undoing

  • Can I undo a repair?

    Yes. VDJTools backs up every file before an import changes it. Run vdjtools /restore /list, choose the backup from before the import, and restore all of it or just the files you want. Close VirtualDJ first. See Restore.

  • Where are my backups and logs?

    Backups are in the VDJToolsBackups folder inside your VirtualDJ home folder, next to your workbook.

    Logs are kept locally, and nothing is sent anywhere: on Windows in %LOCALAPPDATA%VDJToolsLogs, and on a Mac in ~/Library/Application Support/VDJTools/Logs.